Hand grenade hurled because of turf war, not gambling, say investigators
Detectives believe new street barriers main reason behind attack.
KARACHI:
Investigators looking into the hand-grenade attack on Napier Road early Saturday have ruled out the possibility of a gambling fight being the bone of contention, The Express Tribune has learnt. They suggest a political turf war could have led to the act of violence. Police said some gamblers and some political workers were present when the incident took place. But they were not the target. At least 17 people were injured in the attack. A hand grenade was hurled at a crowd sitting outside the well-known sex workers’ den, Bulbul-e-Hazaar Dastan, on Napier Road.
Sources said the incident occurred because of an “internal issue”. “[This was because of] political rivalry,” said a senior investigation officer.
“The Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Peoples Amn Committee are at odds over the former erecting street barriers in the area.”
He said that the MQM started the drive which the rival group did not like. “These streets are frequently used by the gangsters and so their movement is affected by the barriers. Moreover, they were worried that the MQM was demarcating ‘their’ streets which made them no-go areas for their rivals.”
MQM MPA Shoaib Ibrahim confirmed that the attack was because of the barriers which were “erected to stop the gangsters’ movement”. They also resorted to firing in this area two days ago, he alleged. “They want these roads to be shut down. Barriers keep the residents secure as these gangsters can’t come to these areas.”
The perpetrators had tried to attack earlier also but the heavy contingent of police must have stopped them, the investigation officer revealed. “That is why they struck under the cover of night.”
This is known to be an MQM — dominated area — an MQM office is located 20 to 30 feet away. The Lyari area starts two blocks from Napier Road and is a route used frequently by gangsters.
“They could have targeted the MQM office if they wanted to. But they only targeted the crowd so that they could create panic,” said another officer.
“They wanted the people to turn against the barriers. They want the people to think their lives were in danger because of the barriers.”
You will see MQM flags here at every nook and corner. “They were already worried about the barriers and MQM taking over. They were also worried that cannot pay a visit to the Bulbul Hazaar Dastaan because the area was surrounded by the party.”
However, defunct Peoples Amn Committee president Shahidur Rehman said the MQM was behind the attack. “We have nothing to do with this. PAC is not active anyway. A banned organisation cannot do something like this,” he said.
Initially, there were reports that the hand grenade was made locally but according to the bomb disposal squad, it was Russian.
Witnesses said there were three suspects on a motorcycle. “One of them got off and hurled the hand grenade from about 20 feet away,” said one, requesting anonymity.
“They were near the barrier.” The area was tense on Saturday but businesses and markets were open, albeit amid a heavy contingent of law enforcers, including the paramilitary Rangers.
City Town SP Saqib Sultan said the injured people, including two to three MQM workers, were taken to Civil hospital and most of them were discharged after first aid. Two of them are still admitted.
An investigation team led by DSP Raza Hussain Shah has been formed while SP Sultan will supervise it. The Kharadar police registered FIR No. 225/11 under section 3/4of the Explosives act on the complaint of Noor Mohammad against unidentified people.
The officer said that the police were trying to nominate the accused in the FIR but they decided to register the case against unidentified suspects.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2011.
Investigators looking into the hand-grenade attack on Napier Road early Saturday have ruled out the possibility of a gambling fight being the bone of contention, The Express Tribune has learnt. They suggest a political turf war could have led to the act of violence. Police said some gamblers and some political workers were present when the incident took place. But they were not the target. At least 17 people were injured in the attack. A hand grenade was hurled at a crowd sitting outside the well-known sex workers’ den, Bulbul-e-Hazaar Dastan, on Napier Road.
Sources said the incident occurred because of an “internal issue”. “[This was because of] political rivalry,” said a senior investigation officer.
“The Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Peoples Amn Committee are at odds over the former erecting street barriers in the area.”
He said that the MQM started the drive which the rival group did not like. “These streets are frequently used by the gangsters and so their movement is affected by the barriers. Moreover, they were worried that the MQM was demarcating ‘their’ streets which made them no-go areas for their rivals.”
MQM MPA Shoaib Ibrahim confirmed that the attack was because of the barriers which were “erected to stop the gangsters’ movement”. They also resorted to firing in this area two days ago, he alleged. “They want these roads to be shut down. Barriers keep the residents secure as these gangsters can’t come to these areas.”
The perpetrators had tried to attack earlier also but the heavy contingent of police must have stopped them, the investigation officer revealed. “That is why they struck under the cover of night.”
This is known to be an MQM — dominated area — an MQM office is located 20 to 30 feet away. The Lyari area starts two blocks from Napier Road and is a route used frequently by gangsters.
“They could have targeted the MQM office if they wanted to. But they only targeted the crowd so that they could create panic,” said another officer.
“They wanted the people to turn against the barriers. They want the people to think their lives were in danger because of the barriers.”
You will see MQM flags here at every nook and corner. “They were already worried about the barriers and MQM taking over. They were also worried that cannot pay a visit to the Bulbul Hazaar Dastaan because the area was surrounded by the party.”
However, defunct Peoples Amn Committee president Shahidur Rehman said the MQM was behind the attack. “We have nothing to do with this. PAC is not active anyway. A banned organisation cannot do something like this,” he said.
Initially, there were reports that the hand grenade was made locally but according to the bomb disposal squad, it was Russian.
Witnesses said there were three suspects on a motorcycle. “One of them got off and hurled the hand grenade from about 20 feet away,” said one, requesting anonymity.
“They were near the barrier.” The area was tense on Saturday but businesses and markets were open, albeit amid a heavy contingent of law enforcers, including the paramilitary Rangers.
City Town SP Saqib Sultan said the injured people, including two to three MQM workers, were taken to Civil hospital and most of them were discharged after first aid. Two of them are still admitted.
An investigation team led by DSP Raza Hussain Shah has been formed while SP Sultan will supervise it. The Kharadar police registered FIR No. 225/11 under section 3/4of the Explosives act on the complaint of Noor Mohammad against unidentified people.
The officer said that the police were trying to nominate the accused in the FIR but they decided to register the case against unidentified suspects.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2011.